Process for the non-cutting reshaping of metals, and lubricant compositions for this process

ABSTRACT

A process for non-cutting reshaping of metals using polymers in the form of homopolymers and copolymers of 1-olefins, of oxidation products of such homopolymers or copolymers, or of saponification or esterification products of these oxidation products as lubricants. The polymers are solid and preferably have melting points above 100° C. and melt viscosities of greater than 100 mPa s at 170° C., the acid indices in the oxidation products having a value of greater than 5. 
     These lubricants can be employed in pure solid form or in the form of compositions in which they are present as a mixture with lubricant additives and/or suspending agents, dispersing agents or solvents which are known per se.

Shaped metallic parts are frequently produced by non-cutting reshaping,the workpiece, with or without prewarming, being given the desired shapeby means of the action of high external forces. Types of non-cuttingmetal reshaping are, for example, wire drawing, bar drawing, tubedrawing, section drawing, deep drawing and ironing, furthermore coldextrusion, cold heading, pilgering, cold and warm rolling, or forging.

It is known that lubricants can be employed in the non-cutting reshapingof metals in order to improve the results by reducing the frictionbetween the workpiece and the form tool. Mineral oils, with or withouthigh-pressure additives, animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes, andalso metal soaps based on fatty acids, particularly based on stearicacid, are employed as lubricants.

When the known lubricants are used, the non-cutting reshaping of metalsleads, in many respects, to unsatisfactory results. The desired highdegrees of reshaping and reshaping speeds are frequently not achieved.The aimed-at dimensional accuracies and surface qualities of theworkpieces and adequately long tool lives are also not achieved as aresult of cold welding and grooving. In addition, the metal surfaces arestained or corroded and the environment is badly polluted by thechlorine-, sulfur- and phosphorous-containing additives which are oftennecessary in conventional lubricants in order to achieve a detectablelubricating effect. The disadvantages mentioned occur in particular inrelatively difficult cases of metal reshaping, for example in the caseof wire drawing, tube drawing, section drawing, cold extrusion or dropforging of steel, above all in the case of relatively high-alloy steels.In relatively difficult cases, metal reshaping is generally onlypossible at all using conventional lubricants if additional separatingagent or lubricant carrier coatings are applied to the workpiece surfacebefore the reshaping. The separating agent or lubricant carrier coatingsmust generally be applied chemically, in a complicated fashion, byreaction of, usually, certain salt solutions with the workpiece surfacewith formation of corresponding coatings on the workpiece surface (forexample "phosphating", "oxalating"). Physical apolication by allowingsalt solutions to dry on the workpiece surface is also only adequate inless difficult cases, but physical application frequently orovidescompletely unsatisfactory results. In addition, the separating coatingsoften impair the surface quality of the workpieces and require highexpenditure for their removal before further processing of theworkpieces, during which, in addition, waste water which requiresworking up is produced. Moreover, the action of the separating orcarrier coatings is frequently insufficient to achieve acceptablereshaping results in difficult metal reshaping cases.

The invention is based on the object of simplifying the procedure in thecase of non-cutting reshaping of metals and of improving the results.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the metalreshaping is carried out using a lubricant, which is used, ifappropriate, in combination with separating agent and/or lubricantcarrier coatings, wherein the lubricant is selected from a groupcomprising polymers of 1-olefins, oxidation products of such polymers,and esterification and saponification products of the oxidation productsmentioned, and also mixtures of the substances mentioned, this lubricantbeing employed in pure form or as a mixture with other mixturecomponents of lubricants which are known per se.

The advantages which are achieved using the invention compared to knownprocesses are, in particular, that higher degrees of reshaping andhigher reshaping speeds, furthermore higher dimensional accuracies andbetter surface qualities of the workpieces, and also longer tool lives,are achieved. The reshapings can also be carried out with markedly lowerenergy expenditure and reduced environmental pollution. In addition, theapplication of additional separating agent or lubricant carrier coatingscan in many cases be simplified or completely omitted.

Polymers of 1-olefins which are employed as lubricants in the processaccording to the invention are taken to mean homopolymers of C₂ -C₁₈-alkenes having a terminal double bond, preferably the C₂ -C₁₂ -alkenes,above all ethylene, propene, 1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-pentene,1-hexene and 1-octene, and also copolymers of these 1-olefins with oneanother, and furthermore copolymers of these 1-olefins with up to 50,preferably up to 30, particularly up to 20, but above all up to 15% byweight of oxygen-containing 1-olefins.

Polymers are, for example, the commercially available polyethylenes,polypropylenes, polybutylenes etc. as are obtained by known processes,for example by high, medium or low pressure polymerization. Copolymersof the 1-olefins simultaneously contain at least two different 1-olefinunits. These include, for example, polyethylenes containing up to 30,preferably up to 20, particularly up to 10% by weight of other1-olefins, such as propene, 1-butene etc. The copolymers, recentlyavailable under the name LLDPE, of ethylene with higher 1-olefins arealso to be included here. Copolymers of the 1-olefins withoxygen-containing olefins are, for example, copolymers of ethylene withvinyl esters of carboxylic acids, such as vinyl acetate or vinylpropionate, furthermore with vinyl ethers or 1,2-ethylenicallyunsaturated carboxylic acids and the derivatives thereof, such asacrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethacrylic acid, crotonic acid, fumaricacid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, mesaconic acid orthe esters of these acids. The polymers used are not subject to anylimitation with respect to their structure and their molecular size. Forexample, polymers having high or low degrees of branching can be used.It is also possible to employ low molecular weight waxy polymers havingmolecular weights between 200 and 20,000 (melt viscosities about 5 to100,000 mPa s at 160° C.) and high molecular weight, plastic-likepolymers having molecular weights between 20,000 and 5,000,000 (meltindices MFI 190/2.16 about 1000 to 0.001 g/10 minutes). The lowermolecular weight polymers having molecular weights between 200 and100,000, preferably between 500 and 30,000, advantageously between 800and 20,000, in particular between 1,000 and 15,000, but above allbetween 3,000 and 10,000, are particularly well suited. The mainpolymers to nave excellent lubricant properties for the reshaping ofmetals, particularly, for example, in deep drawing or ironing, are thosesimultaneously having high melting points (>100, preferably >110,particularly >115, above all >120° C.), high melt viscosities (>100,preferably >500, particularly >1,000, above all >10,000 mPa s at 170°C.), and high crystallinities (>10, preferably >30, particularly >40,above all 50%). Copolymers which are also constructed fromoxygen-containing monomer units are scarcely crystalline and have lowermelting points, but still have specifically further improved lubricantproperties due to the polarity given in them.

Oxidation products of the polymers are taken to mean products which aregenerally produced by air oxidation of the polymers. They can beprepared by known processes, for example from low molecular weightpolymers by mixing the polymers in the melted condition with air, or,particularly advantageously, from high molecular weight polymers bytreating the polymers in the solid condition or in the melted conditionfinely distributed in an inert dispersing agent with air at elevatedtemperatures. The oxidates have acid indices between 5 and 150,preferably between 10 and 70, advantageously between 15 and 50,particularly between 20 and 45 mg of KOH/g, and melt viscosities between5 and 100,000, preferably between 50 and 50,000, advantageously between100 and 30,000, particularly between 500 and 20,000, above all between1,000 and 15,000 mPa s at 160° C. Their melting points are above 90,preferably above 100, particularly above 110, above all above 115 ° C.The melting points of the oxidates of copolymers tend to be in the lowerof tne ranges specified. Oxidates having high dicarboxylic acid content(>10,preferably >20, advantageously >40, particularly >60, above >80% byweight), as are produced in the oxidation of higher molecular weigntpolymers (molecular weigrts >5,000, preferably >10,000), and oxidatessimultaneously having comparatively high melting points, high meltviscosities, high crystallinities and high polarities, in particular,have excellent properties as lubricants in metal reshaping, even inrelatively difficult cases.

The esterification and/or saponification products of the oxidates areobtained by partially or completely esterifying or saponifying orinitially partially esterifying and then partially or completelysaponifying the carboxyl groups which are still free using monohydric orpolyhydric alcohols or using univalent to trivalent metal ions or usingammonium ions.

Suitable esterification components are primarily: monohydric C₁ -C₂₂-alkanols, dihydric alcohols, such as 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol,1,4-butanediol or ether alcohols, such as diethylene glycol and higherpolyalkylene glycols, furthermore higher-hydric alcohols, such astrimethylolpropane or pentaerythrite, if appropriate as a mixture withone another. Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Al³⁺, NH⁴⁺ andammonium ions of organic amines in the form of their hydroxides,carbonates, acetates, stearates inter alia salts are generally employedas saponification components, if appropriate as a mixture with oneanother. The esterification or saponification is generally carried outin a known fashion by stirring the melted oxidates with theesterification or saponification components, if appropriate in thepresence of suitable catalysts, until the desired degree ofesterification or saponification is reached. The esterification orsaponification can alternatively be carried out by intimately mixing thesolid powdered, suspended, dispersed or dissolved oxidates with thesolid, suspended, dispersed or dissolved coreactants. If suspended,dispersed or dissolved coreactants are used, the product produced can beemployed in moist, if appropriate in suspended or dispersed form, or,after drying, in powdered form for the process according to theinvention. In another embodiment, the saponification products can beprepared by stirring the oxidation products or the partiallypre-esterified oxidation products in the melted condition, ifappropriate with addition of emulsifiers, with the saponificationcomponents dissolved or dispersed in water. Aqueous solutions ordispersions of the saponification products which can also beadvantageously employed as such for the process according to theinvention are produced during this.

The saponification products, less so the esterification products,generally have increased melting points and melt viscosities compared tothe basic oxidates. In the case of the saponification products, themelting points are greater than 100, preferably greater than 110,particularly greater than 120, advantageously greater than 130, aboveall greater than 140° C., and the melt viscosities are greater than 100,preferably greater than 500, particularly greater than 1,000,advantageously greater than 3,000, above all greater than 5,000 mPa s at180° C. The lower of the ranges specified tend to be valid for theesterification products. The esterification and/or saponificationproducts have, in a certain respect, further optimized lubricantproperties compared to the oxidates by means of a specifically-givencombination of comparatively high melting points, high melt viscosities,high crystallinities and also by means of a specific balance betweenpolar and nonpolar components. The saponification products, above all,which form lubricant films having specifically outstanding lubricating,adhesive and separating power and also increased tear resistance andwhich retain these properties even when subject to extreme pressures andtemperatures, have proven particularly advantageous. The esterified and,above all, the saponified oxidation products are therefore suitable, ina very particular fashion, for use as lubricants for difficultreshapings of metals, for eample for tube drawing, section drawing, wiredrawing, pilgering, rolling, cold extrusion, upset forming or forging,preferably for metals which are difficult to deform, such as steels,above all high-alloy steels, also stainless steels, for exampleacid-resistant chromium and chromium-nickel steels.

The polymers whose oxidates or the esterification and/or saponificationproducts of the oxidates can be employed as lubricants for the reshapingof metals for the process according to the invention on their own, as amixture with one another, or as a mixture with other substances. Othersuitable mixture components are, for example, mineral oils, vegetable oranimal oils, fats, waxes or resins, and also fatty acids, fattyalcohols, soaps, synthetic resins or oils, preferably polyalkyleneglycols and the derivatives thereof, very low molecular weightpolyethylenes, or esters. Furthermore, in order to round off theproperties, conventional additives, such as high pressure activecompounds (for example chlorine-, sulfur- or phosphorus-containingsubstances), furthermore pigments and fillers (for example lime, chalk,talc, borax, soda, mica, graphite, molybdenum disulfide, tungstendisulfide, boron nitride, iodine, glass), emulsifiers, surfactants,wetting agents, thickeners (for example montmorillonite), adhesionimprovers, binders, corrosion inhibitors and antioxidants can be mixedwith the lubricants in the process according to the invention.

The polymers, the oxidates thereof, or the esterification and/orsaponification products of the oxidates can be employed for the processaccording to the invention as lubricants in the form of powders,suspensions, dispersions or solutions. In powder form, the lubricantshave a pourability which is advantageously good for use and which, incontrast to the conventional lubricants, is retained even at higheratmospheric humidity. In the case of suspensions, dispersions andsolutions, water, mineral oils, natural or synthetic oils andchlorinated hydrocarbons, if appropriate as a mixture with one another,preferably serve as suspending agent, dispersing agent or solvent. Dueto a solvent-promoting action both in the preparation of the lubricantsaccording to the invention and in the removal thereof from tne metalsurface, polyalkylene glycols have proven particularly advantageoushere. The suspensions and dispersions can be prepared with addition ofknown ionic or nonionic emulsifiers and wetting agents. The lubricantsare applied to the workpieces by known processes, for example bypowdering, brushing, dipping, flooding, spraying or in a continuous flowprocess, if appropriate at elevated temperatures and with subsequentdrying of the workpiece.

The process according to the invention can be advantageously applied inall types of non-cutting reshaping of metals, for example in wiredrawing, bar drawing, tube drawing, section drawing, deep drawing,stretch forming and ironing or in cold extrusion, cold heading,embossing, reducing, pilgering, rolling, cutting and forging. Theprocess is not limited to cold reshaping of metals, but includessemiwarm and warm reshaping of metals, for example warm rolling, dropforging or extrusion, in particular also in the case of nonferrousmetals. The advantages of the procedure according to the inventionbecome apparent, in particular, in relatively difficult reshapingprocesses, for example in tube drawing, section drawing, wire drawing,tube pilgering, rolling, cold extrusion, upset forming or forging.

The process according to the invention is advantageously suitable forthe reshaping of all common metallic materials, for example low-carbonor high-carbon steels, non-alloyed, low-alloy or high-alloy steels,stainless steels, zinc-plated, copper-plated or other metal-coatedsteels, nonferrous metals such as magnesium, aluminum, copper, brass,bronze, zinc, lead, nickel, titanium, zirconium, tungsten and the alloysthereof. The advantages of the process according to the invention apply,in particular, in the reshaping of metals which are difficult toreshape, for example in the case of austenite and ferrite steels,particularly high-alloy, above all non-rusting steels, preferablystainless steels, for example acid-resistant chromium or chromium-nickelsteels, furthermore in the case of zinc-plated steels. Due to theexcellent lubricant action of the lubricants employed, severalsucceeding reshapings are generally possible in the process according tothe invention without intermediate relubrication.

Due to the excellent lubricating, adhesion and separating power and theexceptional film strength of the lubricants employed, the additionalapplication of a separating agent or lubricant carrier coating onto theworkpiece before reshaping can generally be omitted in the processaccording to the invention, even in the case of difficult reshapingprocesses. Compared to known reshaping processes, costs are therebyreduced, waste water problems are reduced, and surface qualities of thefinal products are improved. However, the lubricants employed can alsobe used in combination with known separating agent or lubricant carriercoatings in the process according to the invention. In many cases,further advantages can thereby be achieved in the case of particularlydifficult reshapings of metals, for example in the drawing of stainlesssteel sections with complicated shapes or in cold extrusion. The moresimple physical application of the separating agent or lubricant carriercoatings by allowing appropriate solutions or dispersions to dry on theworkpiece surface (for example liming/ boraxing) is generally sufficienthere in order to achieve excellent results. The more complicatedchemical application of the separating agent or lubricant carriercoatings by chemical reaction of appropriate solutions or dispersionswith the workpiece surface (for example phosphating, oxalating,copper-plating) only brings additional advantages in extreme cases.

Due to the excellent lubricant action of the lubricants employed, higherdegrees of reshaping and greater reshaping speeds, furthermore greaterdimensional accuracies and better surface qualities of the workpieces,and also longer tool lives are generally achieved in the processaccording to the invention in comparison to known processes.Cold-welding, with the connected impairment of the workpiece surfaces bygrooving and impairment of the tool lives by surface welding, does notoccur or only occurs to a considerably reduced extent. The processaccording to the invention furthermore reduces the energy consumptionand the production of waste water.

The process according to the invention is also distinguished by the factthat lubricants are used which do not contain any noxious substances orsubstances such as chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus or boron which have adisadvantageous effect on the properties of the processed materials, forexample as a result of staining and corrosion, and which considerablypollute the environment. The lubricants do not have a corrosive effecton metals, but instead have a corrosion-protective effect. They can beremoved, if required, from the metal surface after the reshaping byconventional cleaning methods without leaving a residue, using simpleagents and methods, for example using conventional alkaline, neutral oracidic cleaners or, alternatively, using organic solvents. The fact thatthe lubricants used can also be removed from the workpiece surface byevaporation without leaving a residue by simple vacuum/heat treatment,for example in the preliminary stage to the heat aftertreatment of theworkpiece, is a specific advantage of the process according to theinvention.

EXAMPLES 1 to 9

Cups are produced from stainless steel sheeting in the deep-drawingprocess using the polymers listed in the table below as lubricants.

    ______________________________________                                        Ex-               Melt-   Melt   MFI                                          am-               ing     viscosity                                                                            190/2.16                                                                             Crystal-                              ple               point   mPa s  g/10   linity                                No.  Type of polymer                                                                            °C.                                                                            (170° C.)                                                                     minutes                                                                              %                                     ______________________________________                                        1    branched poly-                                                                             116     830    --     25                                         ethylene                                                                 2    linear poly- 124     520    --     59                                         ethylene                                                                 3    linear poly- 133     29,000 --     62                                         ethylene                                                                 4    linear poly- 134     --     15     68                                         ethylene                                                                 5    ethylene/    126     --      8     38                                         propylene co-                                                                 polymer (5%                                                                   by weight of                                                                  propene)                                                                 6    branched poly-                                                                             112     --     18     12                                         ethylene                                                                 7    polypropylene                                                                              158     2,500  --     68                                    8    ethylene/    100     --      3     --                                         vinyl acetate                                                                 copolymer (8%                                                                 of vinyl                                                                      acetate)                                                                 9    ethylene/acry-                                                                             108     560    --     --                                         lic acid co-                                                                  polymer (6%                                                                   of acrylic                                                                    acid)                                                                    ______________________________________                                    

The polymer are dissolved in xylene and applied to the sheeting in athin coating using a brush. After evaporation of the solvent, cups aredrawn from the sheets. cups having high dimensional accuracy and highsurface quality (low roughness, high gloss and pale color) are obtained,the Examples 3, 8 and 9 leading to the best relative results. Furtherimproved results are obtained on addition of conventional high-pressureactive compounds.

Identical deep-drawing experiments using conventional drawing oils aslubricants require significantly greater stamp forces and give productshaving markedly lower surface quality.

EXAMPLES 10 to 17

Blank steel wire having a carbon content of 0.85% is drawn by employingthe oxidation products of polymers listed in the table below aslubricants.

    __________________________________________________________________________                                Reshaping results                                               Properties of achieved                                                        the oxidate   drawing                                           Example       m.p.*         speed,                                                                             Surface                                      No.  Type of oxidate                                                                        °C.                                                                        AI*                                                                              SI*                                                                              MV* m/sec                                                                              quality                                      __________________________________________________________________________    10   polyethylene                                                                           128 15 24 5100                                                                              13   good                                              oxidate                                                                  11   polyethylene                                                                           118 24 38 1600                                                                              15   very good                                         oxidate                                                                  12   polyethylene                                                                           108 68 95 150 14   good                                              oxidate                                                                  13   polyethylene                                                                           101 41 56 350 14   very good                                         oxidate                                                                  14   polyethylene                                                                           114 17 31 150 10   satisfactory                                      oxidate                                                                  15   ethylene/vinyl                                                                         103 18 90 4200                                                                              14   very good                                         acetate copoly-                                                               mer oxidate                                                              16   polyethylene                                                                           105 16 29 410  9   satisfactory                                      oxidate                                                                  17   polyethylene                                                                           102 26 48 280 10   good                                              oxidate                                                                  __________________________________________________________________________     *m.p. = melting point, AI = acid index, SI = saponification index, MV =       melt viscosity (mPa s at 140° C.)                                 

The lubricants are employed in solid condition in that the wire is runthrough the powdered lubricant before reaching the tool. The diameter ofthe wire is reduced to 1/4 of the original value over 15 draws. Thereshaping results specified in the table are achieved.

If the drawing experiment is carried out using conventional lubricants,for example based on fatty acid soaps, consistently lower drawing speedsand less good wire surfaces are obtained. In addition, greater drawingdie wear occurs in the case of conventional lubricants.

EXAMPLES 18 to 25

Stainless steel wire is drawn by employing aqueous-alkaline dispersionsof oxidation products of polymers as lubricants.

The process is started from the same oxidation products of polymers asin Examples 10 to 17. The oxidation products are initially convertedinto aqueous-alkaline dispersions by dispersing them in the meltedcondition with the amounts, calculated according to the acid index, ofpotassium hydroxide and together with emulsifiers (5% by weight ofethoxylated fatty alcohol, relative to the oxidate) in hot water.Dispersions having the properties listed in the following table areobtained.

    ______________________________________                                        Oxidate    Properties of                                                      employed   the dispersion Reshaping results                                   Oxidate    Solids         Vis-  achieved                                      Exam- as in    content,     cos-  Drawing                                     ple   Example  % by         ity   speed  Surface                              No.   No.      weight   pH  mPa s m/sec  quality                              ______________________________________                                        18    10       6        9   15    5      good                                 19    11       4        8   13    7      very good                            20    12       5        8    6    6      good                                 21    13       4        8    8    6      very good                            22    14       6        8.5 10    4      satisfactory                         23    15       3        8   15    6      very good                            24    16       5        9   10    4      satisfactory                         25    17       6        8.5  8    5      good                                 ______________________________________                                    

The stainless steel wire (Z 2 CN 18-10) is coated with each of thelubricant dispersions by dipping and subsequent drying, and is deformedover 15 drawings from the initial diameter of 6.5 mm to the finaldiameter of 1.2 mm. The reshaping results specified in the table areachieved. The results are consistently markedly better than thoseobtained under identical conditions using conventional lubricants. Thewire is grooved and sometimes breaks when conventional lubricants areused. Similar results are achieved using the lubricants listed abovewhen they are employed for drawing stainless steel tubes. Results whichare approximately as good can be achieved using conventional lubricantsonly when polluting and corrosive lubricants based on chlorinatedparaffin are used or when the tubes are initially pretreated in acomplicated fashion by oxalation and then aftertreated using specificfatty acid soaps.

If the lubricants according to the invention are employed with additionof small amounts of polyalkylene glycols, they can be removed from themetal surface particularly easily after the reshaping is complete.

EXAMPLES 26 to 33

Lubricants are prepared by converting the oxidation products of polymersused in Examples 10 to 17 into saponification products. For thispurpose, the powdered oxidation products are saponified by mixing withthe equivalent amount of potassium hydroxide solution. The experimentalproducts listed in the following table are obtained.

    __________________________________________________________________________    Oxidate                                                                       employed                                                                      Oxidate   Properties of the                                                   as in     saponification products                                                                        Reshaping results                                  Example                                                                            Example                                                                            m.p.                                                                              Acid index                                                                            mPa s                                                                              Dimensional                                                                          Surface                                     No.  No.  °C.                                                                        mg of KOH/g                                                                           (190° C.)                                                                   accuracy                                                                             quality                                     __________________________________________________________________________    26   10   >190                                                                              2       --   good   good                                        27   11   >190                                                                              3       --   very good                                                                            very good                                   28   12   >190                                                                              5       --   good   good                                        29   13   >190                                                                              4       --   very good                                                                            very good                                   30   14    188                                                                              2       >20,000                                                                            satisfactory                                                                         satisfactory                                31   15    172                                                                              2       >30,000                                                                            very good                                                                            good                                        32   16    176                                                                              3       >20,000                                                                            satisfactory                                                                         satisfactory                                33   17    187                                                                              3       >20,000                                                                            good   satisfactory                                __________________________________________________________________________

Four symmetrically arranged grooves each of depth 5 mm and width 5 mmare drawn in one drawing into cylindrical rods of austenitechrome-nickel steel of diameter 30 mm, the saponification products ofpolymers listed in the table above being employed as lubricants. Thereshaping results specified in the table are achieved. The workpiecesurface still contains sufficient lubricant so that further drawings arepossible without relubrication.

If the drawing experiments are carried out using conventionallubricants, for example based on fatty acid soaos, at best approximatelyequally good results can only be achieved when a separating agent orlubricant carrier coating based on iron oxalate is applied to theworkpieces by chemical treatment of the surface with appropriatesolutions before reshaping.

EXAMPLES 34 to 41

The lubricants from Examples 26 to 33 are in each case dissolved,together with 30% by weight of polyethylene glycol, relative to thelubricant, in a paraffinic mineral oil having the viscosity 168 mm² /s(20° C.) at a temperature of 130° C. In this fashion, 8 lubricants inthe oil phase are obtained which are employed for drawing steel tubes ofmaterials quality St 35. The following results are achieved:

    ______________________________________                                                           Reshaping results                                          Example Employed saponification                                                                        Drawing   Surface                                    No.     product as in Example No.                                                                      force     quality                                    ______________________________________                                        34      26               low       good                                       35      27               very low  very good                                  36      28               low       satisfactory                               37      29               very low  very good                                  38      30               high      adequate                                   39      31               low       good                                       40      32               high      adequate                                   41      33               high      satisfactory                               ______________________________________                                    

Comparably good results are achieved using conventional lubricants onlywhen a separating or carrier coating based on zinc phosphate is appliedto the tubes, in a complicated fashion, before adding the lubricant.

EXAMPLES 42 to 49

The lubricants from Examples 26 to 33 are each suspended in a liquidpolyglycol which is constructed from ethylene oxide and propylene oxideunits. The liquid lubricants thus obtained are employed for drawingstainless steel tubes (=Examples 42 to 49). High degrees of reshaping(up to 51%) and excellent surface qualities are achieved at low drawingforces. The same quality graduation is achieved in the experimentalseries as in Examples 34 to 41. The lubricants are also distinguished,in particular, by the fact that they are easily removed from the metalsurface after the reshaping is complete.

EXAMPLE 50

A cylindrical steel body of materials quality St 35 is converted into asleeve by cold extrusion. An aqueous dispersion of a polyethyleneoxidate having the acid index 26, the saponification index 40, themelting point 118° C., the dicarboxylic acid content of 84% and the meltviscosity 1350 mPa s at 160° C. is employed as lubricant. The reshapingproceeds with comparatively low stamping force and minimal ejectionforce and leads to a dimensionally accurate article having high surfacequality. If a lubricant carrier coating based on zinc phosphate isapplied to the steel body before adding the lubricant, onlyinsignificantly better shaping results are achieved.

The cold extrusion process can only be carried out using a conventionallubricant based on fatty acid soaps if the steel body is previouslyadditionally provided with a lubricant carrier coating based on zincphosphate.

EXAMPLE 51

A polyethylene oxidate having the acid index 68, the saponificationindex 99, the drip point 110° C., the dicarboxylic acid content of 93%and the melt viscosity 150 mPa s at 140° C. is saponified by stirringthe oxidate melt with half the equivalent amount of calcium hydroxide. Asaponification product having the acid index 32, the saponificationindex 72, the drip point 107° C. and the melt viscosity 1500 mPa s at140° C. is obtained. The saponification product is employed in powderform as lubricant for drawing asymmetrical edges into a square stainlesssteel rod. A dimensionally accurate section having sharp edges and ahigh-luster surface is obtained.

The experiment is repeated, previously applying a separating agent orlubricant carrier coating based on iron oxalate to the workpiece surfaceby chemical treatment with an appropriate solution. Reshaping resultsare achieved which are further improved slightly--compared to theexperiment without separating or carrier coating.

Drawing of the section without previous application of a separating orcarrier coating is not possible when using conventional lubricants basedon fatty acid soaps. Although drawing is possible in principle afterapplication of a separating or carrier coating, markedly worse resultsare achieved, however, than in the process according to the invention,for example considerable grooving and high tool wear occur.

EXAMPLE 52

A polyethylene oxidate having the acid index 68, the saponificationindex 99, the drip point 110° C., the melt viscosity 150 mPa s at 140°C. and the molecular weight 1700 is esterified to an acid index of 15using the corresponding amount of stearyl alcohol. A product, having theacid index 15, the saponification index 120, the drip point 104° C. andthe melt viscosity 250 mPa s at 140° C., which is used in powder form aslubricant for cold reshaping of a square stainless steel rod into ahexagonal rod by drawing is obtained. A final product having excellentdimensional accuracy and high surface quality is obtained.

The experiment is repeated, with the difference that the polyethyleneoxidate is initially esterified to an acid index of 30 using thecorresponding amount of stearyl alcohol and is then saponified to anacid index of 15 using calcium hydroxide. A product having the acidindex 15, the saponification index 105, the drip point 108° C. and themelt visosity 1700 mPa s at 140° C. is obtained. When the product issubsequently used as lubricant for cold reshaping of the square rod intothe hexagonal rod, further improved results are achieved inasmuch as, incomparison to above, the reshaping can be carried out using lower force.Equally good results are achieved when the lubricant, merely esterified,used above is employed with admixing of fillers (talc, lime).

I claim:
 1. A process for the non-cutting reshaping of metals comprisingusing, during said non-cutting metal reshaping, a lubricant whichincludes an effective lubricating amount of a synthetic lubricatingagent which is at least one substance selected from the group consistingof air oxidized homopolymers of C₂ -C₁₈ -alkenes having a terminaldouble bond, air-oxidized copolymers of said C₂ -C₁₈ -alkenes,air-oxidized copolymers of said C₂ -C₁₈ -alkenes which include up toabout 50% by weight of an oxygen-containing 1-olefin monomer, andesterification and/or saponification products of said air oxidizedhomopolymers or copolymers, and mixtures thereof, said air oxidizedhomopolymers or copolymers having an acid number of between 5 and 150 mgof KOH/g, a melt viscosity of between 5 and 100,000 mPa s at 160° C., amelting point above 90° C., and a dicarboxylic acid content of greaterthan 10% by weight.
 2. A process as in claim 1, wherein said airoxidized homopolymer or copolymer is the oxidation product of at leastone polymer selected from the group consisting of homo- or copolymers ofethylene, propene, 1-propene, 1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-pentene,1-hexene and 1-octene.
 3. A process as in claim 1, wherein said airoxidized homopolymers or copolymers are formed from polymers havingmolecular weights of greater than 5,000.
 4. A process as in claim 3,wherein said air oxidized homopolymers or copolymers are formed frompolymers having molecular weights of greater than 10,000.
 5. A processas in claim 1, wherein said air oxidized homopolymers or copolymers havean acid number of between 10 and 70 mg of KOH/g, a melt viscosity ofbetween 50 and 50,000 mPa.s, at 160° C., a melting point of above 100°C., and a dicarboxylic acid content of greater than 20% by weight.
 6. Aprocess as in claim 1, wherein the esterification products of the airoxidized homopolymers or copolymers are sterified using monohydric orpolyhydric alcohols, and the saponification products have univalent totrivalent metal ions or ammonium ions.
 7. A process as in claim 6,wherein the lubricating agent is used, during said non-cutting metalreshapinq, in solid, suspended, dispersed or dissolved form and isdirectly prepared in said form by mixing the solid suspended dispersedor dissolved air oxidized homopolymers or copolymers with the solid,suspended, dispersed or dissolved esterification components orsaponification components.
 8. A process as in claim 7, wherein theesterification and or saponification products are used in admixture withsaid air oxidized polymers.
 9. A process as in claim 6, wherein theesterificastion and saponification products have melting points of above100° C., and melt viscosities of above 100 mPa.s at 180° C.
 10. Aprocess as in claim 1, further comprising using a separating agentand/or lubricant carrier during said non-cutting metal reshaping.
 11. Aprocess as in claim 1, wherein the lubricant is employed as a mixturewith a suspending agent, dispersing agent or solvent which is selectedfrom the group consisting of water, mineral oils, natural or syntheticoils, polyalkylene glycols or chlorinated hydrocarbons, and mixturesthereof.
 12. A non-cutting metal reshaping lubricant which includes aneffective lubricating amount of a synthetic lubricating agent which isat least one substance selected from the group consisting of airoxidized homopolymers of C₂ -C₁₈ -alkenes having a terminal double bond,air oxidized copolymers of said C₂ -C₁₈ -alkenes, air oxidizedcopolymers of said C₂ -C₁₈ -alkenes which include up to about 50% byweight of an oxygen-containing 1-olefin monomer, and esterificationand/or saponification products of said air oxidized homopolymers orcopolymers, and mixtures thereof, said air oxidized homopolymers orcopolymers having an acid number of between 5 and 150 mg of KOH/g, amelt viscosity of between 5 and 100,000 mPa.s at 160° C., a meltingpoint above 90° C., and a dicarboxylic acid content of greater than 10%by weight.
 13. A lubricant as in claim 12, wherein said air oxidizedhomopolymer or copolymer is the oxidation product of at least onepolymer selected from the group consisting of homo- or copolymers ofethylene, propene, 1-propene, 1-butene, 3-methyl-1-butene, 1-pentene,1-hexene and 1-octene.
 14. A lubricant as in claim 12, wherein said airoxidized polymers are formed from polymers having molecular weights ofgreater than 5,000.
 15. A lubricant as in claim 12, wherein said airoxidized polymers are formed from polymers having molecular weights ofgreater than 10,000.
 16. A lubricant as in claim 12 wherein the airoxidized homopolymers or copolymers have an acid number of between 10and 70 mg of KOH/g, a melt viscosity of between 50 and 50,000 mPa.s, at160° C., a melting point of above 100° C., and a dicarboxylic acidcontent of greater than 20% by weight.
 17. Lubricant composition for usein a process as in claim 1, wherein it contains an actual lubricantwhich is selected from the group consisting of oxidation products ofpolymers of 1-olefins and the esterification and saponification productsof these oxidation products and mixtures thereof, said lubricantexisting in solid, suspended, dispersed or dissolved form in asuspending agent, dispersing agent or solvent.
 18. lubricant compositionas in claim 17, wherein said lubricant composition further containsadditional mixture components of other lubricant compositions.